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Chapter 52: I Stress Bake
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 53: The Guest Room is Available
I snort. "She told me the guest room is always available when I come to my senses and decide to marry a nice local boy." I use air quotes around "local boy" because I hadn't found any of those before I left, but that wouldn't matter to her. She pushed my brother into marrying the neighbor girl he had a play wedding with in preschool. "Worst case scenario I could go to college and get a degree in an acceptable field.""Doctor, lawyer, maybe an accountant?" Bennett ticks most of my mother's list off on his fingers while I nod at each. "Yes." He bites the side of his lips. "You're definitely not an accountant.""Accountants aren't allowed so much color." It wouldn't be me if it wasn't pink. "I enrolled in the business program at the local community college to keep her happy but quickly flunked out. I had more fun working my part-time job at this little diner in town. It was full of truckers and other riffraff. A rather tough crowd, but I loved it.""So you left the truckers, moved t
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 54: Gunshots
"Get down!" Bennett throws himself on top of me, and together we fall to the ground like a heavy sack of potatoes. My elbow smacks the hard tile, jarring the bone but stopping my head before it strikes the floor.From our position behind the counter, I can't see any of the action, but the sounds of glass raining on the floor and then a continued series of pops rings in my ears. Bennett positions his arm around my head in slow motion. The entire room freezes until I swear I'm able to make out each individual piece of glass making contact with the hard floor and bouncing off in the distance.And then just as quickly it all stops. The bakery is an eerie quiet except for the sound of my heart thumping against my ribcage."Are you okay?" Bennett slides off me, reaching behind him and pulling out a black gun. It's smaller than I expect a gun to be...and plastic. Nothing like the weapons you see on TV. "Stay down." He pushes my shoulder to reinforce his point.Time speeds up. Like som
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 55: Where the Hell is She?
The small ring I wear on my right hand catches on the fabric of my apron. I need to take it off. The once bright pink fabric is now covered with large patches of red. They're slowly becoming crusty as they dry. It's enough to make my stomach roll if I think about it. So I try not to. Instead I stare at the light blue walls of the hospital waiting room.I need to get up and throw the apron away. Find a bathroom and wash the matching color from my hands. But what I should do, what I need to do, and what I want to do are all things my body can't do in this moment. The paramedics directed me to the small waiting room off the side of the ER less than ten minutes ago. I plopped my ass in one of the uncomfortable plastic grey chairs and haven't moved since.My legs seem to have forgotten how to carry me places. Not that I know where to go if they could."Where the hell is she?" a voice booms from right outside the waiting room door.Before he receives an answer, Bennett sticks his hea
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 56: Bike Equivalent of an Eye Roll
Bennett follows and so by proxy I tag along beside him. The outer wall of the waiting room is lined with chairs. The biker, obviously here for Mad Dog, selects a chair on the far side of the room and then Bennett pushes me down in one closer to the door. There's a huge carpeted open space between us. The newcomer jerks on the edges of his vest and flashes Bennett a look. One I'm not quite sure of. Annoyance more than likely. It's like the biker equivalent of an eye roll. My body clenches, worried he's taken offense to our position, but another second passes and he laughs, shaking his head when Bennett tightens his grip around my shoulders."This the way it's gonna be, huh?"Bennett doesn't miss a beat in their man-only conversation. "Yup.""Have you heard any news on Dog?" the stranger asks."Not yet, but it doesn't look good." Bennett and the biker make matching faces of sorrow. "Why did you and your boys get involved, Dom?"Dom? He's not a Spike or Bone Crusher? "Dom? It's
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 57: Pelican Bay Security
The doors to Ridge's security building are tall and glass, the words Pelican Bay Security etched out in the frosted glass. It's nothing at all like what I expect his building to look like. To be honest, I hadn't given it much thought except for the few minutes it took to drive here from the hospital. So I guess, in a way, it's a perfect example of what a group of rough tough ex-military guys would have for an office.Bennett uses one of his long, thick arms to push open the door, holding it so I can walk in. My steps end abruptly when I reach the middle of a large room. Everything, and I mean everything, is grey. The carpet, the chairs, even the walls are painted a light smoky grey color. This is much more of what I expected from a business run by men. In the middle of the room a large dark wooden desk sits at an angle to greet people as they enter.Except, there's no one sitting behind it. The desktop is neat and orderly. A flat screen monitor and keyboard use up a small portion o
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 58: Frankie has been consolidating
"Wait!" I cut Ridge off and lean forward almost falling off my chair. "Are you saying this Kevin guy was making drugs in my kitchen?" That has to be some kind of safety violation. Definitely unsanitary."I didn't suspect it until now. I can't believe Frankie Zanetti had one of his guys cooking drugs so close to my base. You know he's doing it as a big fuck you to me after we picked up his cousin for that warrant.""Yeah, and now he's swept Anessa up in it.""Trust me, I know. My girlfriend works in that bakery too. It could have just as easily been Tabitha there when Mad Dog stopped by.""Who is Frankie Zanetti?" I ask. Unable to follow the guys' back and forth about New York gangs.Bennett twist in my direction as he answers. "Frankie is the head of the Zanetti household. One of the leading mob families out of New York."My nose crinkles up. "I thought the mob was dead?"Ridge laughs, slapping the top of his desk. "The mob isn't dead. They've just gotten smarter. Between
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 59: Bennett Walker has a secret
Bennett Walker has a son.A real live son.One who looks exactly like him. From his brown hair to his bright green eyes, right down to the way his cheeks fold up when he smiles.Wow.The small child takes a flying leap and lands directly in Bennett's arms. Bennett, with his arms wrapped around the small person, the two of them whispering back and forth to one another, takes a few strides toward the house. When he realizes I'm not following, he stops, turns back, and tilts his head toward the front porch.That's all it takes.One quick head flick and I follow Bennett to the white front porch surrounding the spectacular home. With each step, more and more of the information Bennett shared about himself the last few days falls into place.I figured maybe he needed to get back to the states because his mother was sick. Or maybe a brother. I never guessed a child. Children normally come with a wife. Or at least a girlfriend. Now I fully understand why Bennett fought with Ridge
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 60: The Truth Comes Out
When Bennett doesn't start talking again, I give him a pointed look until he takes a deep breath and resumes."On my last leave in the states, I stopped by to pick up Liam and found her curled in a ball on her bathroom floor." He stops, taps the counter twice and with another deep breath continues, "I was horrible to her. Accused her of being on drugs and finally after a lot of yelling she admitted," he rubs his hand against his forehead creating red lines from the hardness, "she had cancer.""Oh no." I wish there was something better I could say, but nothing articulate comes to mind. The oil hisses and pops as I spread the veggies around, tossing them with the spatula."The doctors caught it too late. Gina went through a round of chemo but it wasn't enough. She died a few months later.""Bennett, I'm so sorry." With the vegetable done, I remove the pan from the heat and turn off the stove while keeping my eyes on his.He shrugs — getting a handle on his emotions quickly — an
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Pelican Bay Security Chapter 324: From Elliot
ElliotFive years later"No, sweetie, we only get one puppy today." I squat getting on the same level as my daughter, Brandise.The round ball of fluff she squeezes onto with all her might so he doesn't run away licks her across the face and she giggles. "Daddy, they're twins just me and Bray. They have to stay together."My eyes flick back and forth between each dog. One held in the tight grip of Brandise and the other being sized up by my son. Their mother, Harley, a woman who took too long for me to figure she meant everything stands between the two of them with her lips pinched together not helping me in this situation. She's left me out in the cold on my own.The two puppy siblings look alike, but in my eyes every Yorkie looks the same. How can you tell them apart? The puppies my babies held both had a lighter colored face than Rocky, but other than that they were big puffballs of fur."Sweetie, Rocky only needs one brother," I try again hoping to talk sense into her.
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 322: No Listening to Reason
Elliot's steps are slow but sure as I hold open the bakery door to let him get through the space. Once he's cleared the way, I stand beside him in case he needs me for support as he makes his way to the first table in the busy sitting section. You wouldn't expect a shoulder injury to cause issues walking, but with each movement his body makes, his shoulder sways with the force and his face grimaces.It's too soon for him to be up and moving, but I couldn't make him listen to reason.He finds his seat and plops in it heavily, the chair legs scraping on the tile. The people around us stop what they're doing and turn before a small round of applause starts from behind the bakery counter and then picks up including people from every space in the bakery. Elliot turns to the noise, catching everyone in their adoration, and scowls until the clapping fades."Cupcakes for everyone," Anessa says smiling from her spot at the counter. "Especially for our new hero."Elliot's scowl deepens.
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 323: Eligible Bachelors
Dominick releases a breath and sucks in another one as if preparing himself for this new life. "Are you positive? Because there are very eligible bachelors in my club. A brother could keep you safe."I don't argue with him that Elliot kept me safe. Well at least until he got shot, and no one can blame a man for that. He literally stuck his body in between me and a loaded weapon. How much more could he have done?Plus I could never live life in the club again. Now after experiencing life on my own. "Yeah, and then they'd cheat on me or go to prison."Dominick shakes his head. "My men aren't that way. They love hard and deep. I changed the club here, Harley. It's different from how we grew up in Colorado."There's honesty in his words, but it will never be enough to bring me back. "Elliot is mine."Dom shakes his head once, admitting defeat. "Fine. Onto topic two. I met your father," he says father accusatorily like I've been keeping something from him.Which, in a way, I hav
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 322: Three Bullets to the Chest
Without warning there's another harsh pop in the air like someone shooting off a firecracker, and then red blossoms in the middle of Pete's forehead. His body falls back hitting the ground once again. The thud is too far away to hear, but I swear my body feels the vibration.Holy fuck.My ears ring from the gunfire as men pool around us each of them yelling things back and forth. It's coordinated chaos. An ambulance with its lights flashing speeds over the highway."That man took three bullets to the chest," Huxley mutters to himself shaking his head. "I haven't seen anything that crazy since Thailand."... The steady beat of Elliot's hospital machines lulls me into a restless sleep as my head rests on Elliot's hand."Harley," a deep voice whispers in my ear, shaking my shoulder. "Har."In a start my head pops up and my eyes search Elliot's face, but his hand still rests underneath my head, a pool of my drool sticking between his fingers."Still drool, huh? I wouldn't
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 321: Nobody to Save Me
"Dominick won't pay anything for me," I lie.Pete laughs. "Don't want money. I'm looking to trade you for a free get-out-of-town card. If he won't offer me his protection, you'll be a going away gift to my men. They're upset with having to leave. I'm sure you understand.""What?" Fear causes me to choke out the word as a hundred images flash through my brain of what he could mean, but only one is sick and depraved enough for this man.He smirks. "They'll love you if the Impaler doesn't."I fall to my knees against the back of his seat. "No, please don't." I'd rather he shoot me now than do what his smile promises. He means I'm to be a sexual gift given to his men and passed between them. I'd never survive. Sure, Dom trained me in basic self-defense skills, but my mother sheltered me from club life so I only heard the evils of the world through others. Until now, I never once felt concern for my safety. Not the way I do now.The cargo van travels on the highway, passing a bill
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 320: Nothing Drastic
"Stand up, Fucker."Elliot scoots away from me as I claw deftly on his leg trying to hold on and keep him close. He turns, not making any sudden movements and puts his body in front of mine to shield me once again from the nasties of life."Let's not do anything drastic, Pete." Elliot takes a step forward with his hand held out defensively.I twist seeing the old man wearing a pair of board shorts, a blue Hawaiian shirt with palm trees, and flip-flops on his feet standing in the middle of the beach. He resembles a tourist who belongs in Florida not a man running a drug ring in Pelican Bay. He sneers at me taking the tension from Elliot for just a moment and waving the gun in his direction as if either of us could forget it's there."She's the only one who can name me. Without her I can pick up shop and start somewhere fresh and there's nothing you can do about it. You guys don't have shit on me.""You're standing in the middle of a public beach during the day, Pete," Elliot t
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 319: Stagnant Words
He flinches as of my question has hurt him, but I'm the child who didn't have a father. "I got out early for good behavior and I looked up your mother. I learned what happened. Sorry about your loss," he says. The words are stagnant as if he knows what he's supposed to say but struggles with the meaning. Yet, something in the inflection makes me believe he means each one. His eyes turn soft, possibly remembering his time with my mother.My life has never been cupcakes and cookies, but the last month has been indescribable except for the word surreal. First, I had no father, then I picked up a club president for a stepdad, lost him, and now gained back the original. What is happening to my life?"What will happen now?"My father shakes his head and stares at me with a touch of a smile tweaking his lips. "I'm out of the club life. Plan to take the straight and narrow from here on out."I hold back the cringe at his promise. It's one I've heard from club brothers my entire life. E
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 318: She Deserves Better
Elliot shakes his head, his fingers curving around the handle of his gun. His face pinches together as if he has so much to say, but is staying silent for me.Until he doesn't anymore."Would someone mind telling me what the fuck is going on?"He's not the only one looking for answers. "Me too. Mom said you died in a motorcycle crash. Drove your bike over a mountain ledge one night." She hadn't said he'd been drinking, but I've filled in the blanks for myself as I aged.My father's teeth come together hard making a gnashing sound I hear even from my position. "Yeah well. She thought it would be better than the true story. Easier for both of you to move on rather than wait around on me living only a half-life.""Then what is the true story?" After my mom left Dominick's dad, it was the three of us together. I always believed we never hid any secrets from one another.My father shakes his head and stares at me but looks past me as if he's reliving the memories himself. "She s
Pelican Bay Security Chapter 317: Escape Plans
My gaze and thoughts flip to the back door, but I'm too far away to reach it before he could shoot me.The man is younger than Pete and not the person I saw put a bullet in someone earlier this month, but he's old enough to be my father. His skin is leathered and wrinkled as if he's spent a lifetime in the sun. His jeans are loose and a leather jacket lacking any MC cut is wrapped around his body. Not a Bloodhound.I stand next to the kitchen island breathing heavily while trying to come up with an escape plan as the two of us stare at one another unmoving.He speaks first. "Now, Harley, is this any way to greet the old man who named you?"His words scatter in my brain, startling me into paying attention, all my plans of escape lost. "Excuse me? My father named me."It was one of the few stories I had of the man who shared such a brief relationship with my mother. "He wanted to pay homage to the best...""Damn motorcycle company the US has ever seen," he finishes my sentenc
